tion, he was still the cool, the firm, the unshaken, American Republican. The sentence of WASHINGTON, at this portentous period, is the best eulogy--"I believe JAMES MONROE to be an honest man."

The citizens of his native state, also the native state of WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, MADISON and HENRY, deeply penetrated with, and fully conscious of his worth, placed him in the gubernatorial chair of Virginia, from which, after the expiration of the constitutional term, he carried an unanimous VOTE OF THANKS, for the faithful, dignified, and impartial manner in which he had discharged the duties of Chief Magistrate.

Retiring from the perpetual excitement and solicitude of public life, Mr. MONROE had scarcely began to enjoy the sweets of repose, before Mr. JEFFRSON, at the head of the Republic, designated him to assert and maintain the rights of America, before the Court of France.

The native expanse of his views, continued to expand with his expanding country. He viewed the waters of the Mississippi, and the Missouri, as of little less importance to his country than those of the Atlantic; and the immense region of Louisiana a wild territory at the West, of a future value approximating to the invaluable worth of the cultivated region at the East.

His masterly penetration, as a diplomatist, secured them both for the Republic.

Devoted to his country from innate and acquired principle, and clothed with its authority, he repaired to the vascillating court of Spain, and left it as he found it, the sink of intrigue and corruption.

From thence he passed to the court of Britain. He there

found himself, surrounded by the imperious ministers of the most potent rival of the American Republic.

Serene, unmoved, and perfect master of himself, and of his business, he effected what then could be effected by negotiation-returned home, and left the event with his coun

try.

The opinion formed of his services abroad, was evideneed by placing him again in the office of Chief Magistrate of Virginia.

But his character had become identified with the rights, the glory and the dignity of the whole Republic; and MADISON, the successor of JEFFERSON, called him to fill the allimportant Department of State.

In this station the Scholar, the Patriot, and the Statesman shone conspicuously, and perspicuously, in JAMES MONROE. No British subtilty could enthrall--no vapid promises allure-no menacing tone could deter the Secretary.

The firm language of remonstrance gave place to the sonorous notes of war; and the insulted country was man fully told that protracted negotiation was ended by an appeal to arms.

Mr. MONROE, during the two first compaigns of the second war with Britain, sustained the dignity of the State Department, and, amidst the accumulated horrors of Vandal invasion, and Gothic devastation, was called also to head the Department of War.

Upon one day he had to act a significant part in the Cabinet-upon another to give official direction to the thunders of Plattsburgh, the Canadian Peninsula, and NewOrleans.

Upon the return of an honourable peace, after a glori

ous war, upon the land and on the ocean, the Secretary of State and of War enjoyed a temporary repose from the turmoil and agitation, of a vast accumulation of official duty.

The highest honour which man can claim in the nineteenth century, now awaited the acceptance of JAMES MON

ROE.

He had been virtually elected the Fifth President of the American Republic, by the spontaneous voice of the American People; and needed only the Constitutional Formulæ to inaugurate him into that station-above all other temporal elevation--the Chief Ruler of the only genuine Republic on earth; and made such by the election of TEN MILLIONS of the freest, happiest, and most intelligent people in the world.

The most impassioned language of eulogy would lag far behind reality, in speaking of his administration. It is found in the increasing happiness; the augmenting wealth ; the moral and intellectual energy; the rising glory, and impregnable defence of the great nation over which he presides.

This feeble sketch of the Character and Public Services of JAMES MONROE will be closed by a sketch still more imperfect, of his person.

He is a very little above the middle height of Americans, in his stature. Although he does not possess a robust frame, his presence would evince, to a close observer, that he was a man of very considerable muscular power.

There is not the least appearance of lassitude in his person; but it exhibits a natural compactness, increased by bodily activity and vigorous exertion.

In the expression of his countenance, there is nothing that would attract attention, were it not for the character he has acquired, and the sphere in which he moves.

He seems to be a perfect novice in the art of forcing into his face, occular evidence of deep thought, wonderful acuteness, or the lineaments of wisdom; and the phisiognomist would despair of gathering the qualities of his mind, from exterior indices. Nor would the craniologist succeed any better; for his head, like his face, in its exterior, is not strikingly different from other men's; and as he is sixtythree years of age, it does not exhibit more of the ravages of time than usually falls to the human lot.

When silent, his countenance indicates something like forbidding austerity; but in familiar conversation, and when reciprocating civilities, it is often lighted up with a smile, beaming with benignity and benevolence.

When disengaged from official duties, his deportment is easy, unaffected, and unassuming. The disciples of Stanhope, although they would discover in the President a sufficiency of "modest assurance," they would look in vain for that artificial "suavity of manners" so captivating with superficial courtiers.

His manners are those of a plain, dignified gentleman. The graces, at his command, seem to have volunteered their services, conscious that into his service they never would have been impressed. His courtesies proceed from his native benignity, and his artless display of them would suffuse the cheek of affectation with the blush of shame.

If the President has any affectation, it is in his dress ; which though neat and rich, is so exceedingly plain, that, in a promiscuous assemblage, he could with difficulty be identified.

In his different Tours* through our vast Republic, for

* The following elegant extract is from an address delivered to Mr. MONROE upon reaching the borders of the State of Maine in 1817.

eigners, and those who ape the wardrobe of foreigners, wondered where he was; and, when they saw him, wondered!!

Such, imperfectly drawn, is the person, the deportment, and appearance of the MAN, whose CHARACTER is known in the two hemispheres-duly appreciated in the East-admired, respected, and venerated in the West.

If he survives his Presidential Dignities, and, like his great predecessors, WASHINGTON, ADAMS, JEFFERSON and MADISON, seeks repose in retirement*—there, when appearing in native, unadorned majesty—“ Nature may stand up to all the world, and claim him as her own." From this "private station," which to him will be "the post of honour," he may in retrospect, (retiring into himself) contemplate upon a Life devoted to the great cause of the

The Committee who offered it consisted of the present Gov. Parris, Hon. John Holmes, and W. P. Preble, (son of Com. Preble :)

"This journey, like the journey of your life, is commenced and pursued for the public good. Like that, its fatigues have been endured with patience, its obstacles overcome with perseverance, its storms encountered with firmness, and its refreshing sunshines relished with equanimity and gratitude. In each, as you have advanced, you have acquired additional honour, reverence, and love. In your future progress in both, may your health be preserved, your country's prosperity and glory secured; and the affections, confidence, and union of the people increased and confirmed. And when these respective journies shall be ended, and you shall return home, may you at the close of the one, be received in health and happiness to the embraces of an affectionate family, and of the other, to the favour and fruition of Him, who will never fail to reward the great and the good."

* "It has ever been my proudest ambition from early youth to serve my country, in such offices as my fellow.citizens have thought fit to confide to me. It will be my most consoling reward, when I retire from public life, to find, that my conduct has been such as to merit and obtain their approbation." Tour of Monroe, p. 198, 3d edition.